A Roof Top Experience  

 

Winter soon came to Palestine and Jesus returned to his home-base in Capernaum. Because of Jesus’s growing reputation, the throng of people to hear and see Him was intense. The courtyard, where He was staying, quickly filled with people. “It was heard He was in the house. Immediately, many gathered, so there was no room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.” (Mark 2:2)  

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Among those eager to see Jesus was a group of men with a paralytic acquaintance. “Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic ho was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.” (Mark 2:3-4)  

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The typical home of an Israelite had an outside stairway leading to the roof. The roof had rough timber beams as the major support with reeds laid down between and over the supports. Then a mud plaster was added. Next, a mixture of chalk, earth, and ash, was followed by another mixture of mud and lime. Finally, a stone roller was used to compact the mixture. When done, the roof was inspected for durability to hold the weight of several people. (Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life) 

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Because of the thickness of the roof and the hardness of the material, the roof was not an easy project for the men to dig through. On the other hand, the outer edge of the home had a covered galley (porch) that held a much simpler, lighter roof. 

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“So, when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.” (Mark 2:4b). Imagine the surprise when the paralytic appeared in their midst. Possibly with a little chuckle Jesus “Said to the paralytic, ‘Son your sins are forgiven you.’” (Mark 2:5). The scribes in attendance were shocked. “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone.” (Mark2:7).  

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To the outraged scribes Jesus responded, “Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’--He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’” (Mark 2:9-11).  The healed and forgiven man picked up his mat, went out in the presence of them while the people “Were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this!’” (Mark 2:12b). 

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Jesus's actions only further enraged the religious leaders. Only God could forgive sin. Was He, once again, attaching Himself to the Almighty? 

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This event revealed far more than the healing of a broken body. Jesus used the faith of the paralytic’s friends to show that He had authority not only over sickness, but also over sin. To the crowd, it was a miracle unlike anything they had ever seen; to the scribes, it was a troubling claim that demanded an answer. In this moment, Jesus made it clear that the Son of Man had come with divine authority, offering forgiveness, restoration, and undeniable proof that God’s power was present among them.